As long as quarterback Lamar Jackson is healthy and in good form, the Baltimore Ravens will almost certainly feature a productive running game. That’s been the case whether they’ve had Mark Ingram, Gus Edwards, J.K. Dobbins or Justice Hill lined up behind Jackson.
It was even the case in 2021 when a rash of injuries forced the Ravens to rely on Latavius Murray and Devonta Freeman to carry the load. That Ravens team, which put its top three running backs on injured reserve before Week 1, still finished third in the NFL in rushing yards per game and tied for fifth in yards per carry.
Jackson commands so much attention and puts so much stress on defenses that he opens up opportunities and space for running backs. It’s benefited Derrick Henry, who leads the league with 704 rushing yards through six weeks. That’s nearly 100 yards more than San Francisco’s Jordan Mason, who ranks second.
Henry has also been integral to Jackson playing arguably the best football of his career. It’s been especially evident in the fourth quarter, when Jackson, in most weeks, hasn’t had to close out victories by himself. Tossing the ball to Henry or extending it right into his hands has worked just fine, too.
“We’ve had good rushing attacks, and we’ve had a lot of games where we’ve rushed for a lot of yards. That’s all great, but the difference Derrick Henry has made is pretty clear,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Monday. “It’s a different kind of rushing attack with him because of the way he runs the ball. He’s just one of a kind. He’s one of one.”
The King in the end zone 👑
Tune in on CBS! pic.twitter.com/EPfInwA6Ch
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 13, 2024
Henry’s 27-yard run just before the two-minute warning Sunday all but closed out the Washington Commanders in a 30-23 Baltimore victory. A week earlier against the Cincinnati Bengals, Henry’s 51-yard scamper in overtime set up Justin Tucker for a chip shot game winner.
In Week 4, the Ravens had a relatively comfortable 18-point lead against the Buffalo Bills, but Henry made sure there would be no comeback with a 38-yard run on the third play of the fourth quarter. The Ravens scored a touchdown three plays later.
Henry has been the Ravens’ closer and at his best in the fourth quarter, when he’s been needed to pick up big first downs, kill the clock and put Baltimore in position to mount game-winning or game-securing drives.
In fourth quarters and one overtime this season, Henry has rushed for 246 yards and a touchdown on 36 carries, good for a 6.8-yard per carry average. Overall, Henry is averaging 6.3 yards per carry in second halves, compared to 4.3 in first halves this season.
“I always had confidence, but definitely,” Jackson said when asked Sunday whether having Henry has helped late in games. “We just know he just needs a lane and he’s going to do the rest.”
The Ravens loved everything about Henry when they targeted the longtime Tennessee Titan this offseason and signed him to a two-year, $16 million deal in March. But one of his most enticing characteristics was his propensity to get stronger both as games and seasons wore on.
The Ravens play in a lot of close games and annually fancy themselves as contenders, so having a big, dynamic back who can put away already fatigued and worn-down defenses is a coup.
No breaks for struggling pass defense
As he prepared last week for rookie phenom Jayden Daniels and the high-powered Commanders offense, Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr acknowledged that there’s never a “relief” given the team’s schedule. Orr is probably feeling the same sentiment this week.
What’s the Ravens’ reward for holding the Commanders to 23 points, eight below their season average? A prime-time Monday night matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who put 51 points on the New Orleans Saints Sunday despite turning the ball over three times. The Buccaneers are tied with the Commanders for the most points in the league (178) and rank 10th in offensive DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average).
In other words, the matchup represents another big test for a Ravens pass defense that has struggled and yet continues to face some of the league’s top offenses every week. The Buccaneers are the Ravens’ fourth consecutive opponent that currently ranks in the top 10 in offensive DVOA.
The Commanders are second. The Bengals are seventh. The Bills are ninth. The Kansas City Chiefs, who the Ravens played in Week 1, are eighth. That means through their first seven games, the Ravens will have faced five teams ranked in the top 10 in offensive DVOA.
Targeting defense at deadline?
The NFL trade deadline isn’t until Nov. 5, so the Ravens still have three games to play before getting to that point. As coaches and players are fond of saying, the NFL is a week-to-week league. Everything can change based on one result. A position of strength can quickly become a weakness. Injuries can expose roster holes.
Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta typically is active at the deadline. He doesn’t always make a move, but he tries to, particularly when his team looks good enough to contend. This year’s team looks the part. It’s also likely that DeCosta waits pretty close to the deadline before swinging a trade. The team is tight against the salary cap and absorbing a veteran contract is a bit easier in early November than in mid-October.
The question is what will DeCosta target? He’ll have a position or two in mind to upgrade, but he’s also typically flexible. There may not be a deal to be had at Baltimore’s biggest perceived need. Whether it was cornerback Marcus Peters in 2019, pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue in 2020 or middle linebacker Roquan Smith in 2022, DeCosta has shown that he covets the deal that makes the most sense in terms of adding an impact player without sacrificing a ton of draft capital, rather than the deal that may address his team’s biggest need.
If you’re evaluating the current Ravens, their biggest need is clear: somebody who can impact the opposing quarterback. That could be an outside linebacker, defensive lineman or defensive back. It will be popular to attach the Ravens to every playmaking wide receiver and accomplished offensive lineman rumored to be available, but they have far bigger questions on defense than offense right now.
Roster decisions pending
There is no downside to having a healthy roster. The Ravens have been the healthier team in just about every one of their games this season, and that’s one reason why they’ve been able to rattle off four straight wins. However, it does limit the team’s roster flexibility when it needs to add a player to the 53-man and there’s no obvious corresponding move.
On Tuesday, the Ravens waived offensive guard Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, a 2023 sixth-round pick, to make room for Ngakoue on the active roster. Ngakoue had one practice squad elevation left, but a few teams since last week had expressed interest in adding him to their roster — and the Ravens didn’t want to risk losing a player who has added some juice to the pass rush.
They would have preferred keeping Aumavae-Laulu, too. However, they needed a spot and he’s down the depth chart. Unless injuries arise, the Ravens will be forced to make more tough decisions in the coming weeks.
Harbaugh indicated that cornerback Arthur Maulet could return to practice this week. Maulet, who had arthroscopic knee surgery during training camp, started his 21-day practice window on Oct. 2. But he tweaked his hamstring in his first practice and hasn’t been on the field since.
Even if Maulet practices fully this week, that may not be enough time for him to return to game action immediately. He hasn’t practiced regularly since early August. The Ravens won’t want to rush the veteran corner and risk another setback.
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Ultimately, the Ravens will have a decision to make about Maulet’s status by the middle of next week, when his 21-day practice window closes. They’ll either have to activate him to the 53-man roster or have him revert to season-ending injured reserve. The Ravens view Maulet as a key defensive and special teams piece, so it seems likely that they’ll activate him to the 53 when they have to, even if he’s not immediately ready to play.
That will require the Ravens to open a roster spot on a 53-man roster that is now full. So, too, will running back Keaton Mitchell’s return — and a trade acquisition would need a spot as well. Most of Baltimore’s game day inactives have been rookie draft picks, who the Ravens won’t want to expose to waivers. That will make for some interesting decisions in the days ahead when they need to free up 53-man spots.
(Photo: Patrick Smith / Getty Images)
